Humility: The Test of Greatness
Luke 22:24-38
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29 and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded[e] to sift all of you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” 34 Jesus[f] said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”
35 He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” 36 He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”
In typical fashion the disciples descend into a debate about who is the greatest, a debate that grows out of Jesus’ statement that one of those eating at the table would betray Jesus. Jesus turns the conversation to explore three truths.
First, we are given a reminder that the greatest at the table is the one who serves. That the youngest, in a culture that did not worship youth the youngest was regarded as the least important, is in fact the greatest. These are familiar refrains, but just hours before his crucifixion the words suggest that those who are oppressed and downtrodden are in fact the ones to be honoured.
Second, there is a warning to Simon (notice it is Simon, not Peter) (vs. 31). Simon the old name, the name before Jesus named him. This old name reminds us that it is easy to go back to the old ways. And then Jesus goes back to calling him Peter (vs. 34). Yes, Peter will deny, but there is hope that he can live up to his new name. Live up to being who Jesus has called him to be, even after Peter denies Jesus. And there is hope for us as well, that when we fail to live up to being who we were called to be, there is the possibility of finding a new way. To do that means resting in the strength Jesus prays for, which means trusting God to be our strength and that requires the humility to not be self-sufficient.
Third, before the disciples were told to take nothing with them (Luke 10), now they are instructed to take things with them. For they are going into a place where they will not be well received, where they will be tested and tried. They will be seen as the lawless, as going against society.
PRAYER:
Lord God, teach us to trust in you alone, for our strength, for our significance, for our courage. Give us humble hearts to follow only your Son, Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.